Window cleaning is a sub-discipline with its own technique and real occupational health considerations. Here is the classic wet method with squeegee and rubber blade, pole/deionised water method with modified (demineralised) water, why it gives streak-free windows — and the rules for safe work at height.
Introduction
Window cleaning is a classic sub-discipline of the cleaning profession with its own technique and its own equipment. It is not just about 'wiping the pane': a proper technique gives a streak-free result quickly, while an incorrect one leaves haze, streaks and fluff. And because many panes are at height, the profession involves a real occupational health concern — falls from height are among the most serious accidents in the workplace.
The classic wet method
The traditional method uses two tools: a wash tool (washer/pad that applies water and some soap to the window and loosens the dirt) and a squeegee (rubber blade that pulls the water off in a smooth motion). The skill is pulling all the water off without leaving wet streaks, and drying the blade edge and window edges so water does not run back.
- 01Wash the window with the glass cleaner — cover the entire surface, loosen the dirt, work from top down.
- 02Pull off with the rubber squeegee in overlapping strips — dry the edge of the rubber between each pass so you do not spread water again.
- 03Wipe edges and frame with a cloth so trailing water doesn't form streaks.
- 04Use a little detergent/rinse aid as needed — too much foam gives streaks; often plain (or modified) water is enough.
Rod and pure water method: modified water
A large part of modern window cleaning — especially outside and at height — is carried out with a telescopic pole and brush connected to pure, purified water. 'Purified water' is water that has been purified of dissolved minerals (demineralised/deionised, e.g. by osmosis and/or ion exchange). The pane is scrubbed with the brush and rinsed with the pure water, and nothing is wiped — the pane is left to dry by itself.
The pure water method has several advantages: it reaches high without ladder/lift (better safety), it typically uses little or no chemicals (better environment), and it is fast on many identical windows. The requirement for purified water is also included in the Swan Label criteria for window cleaning (see the article on the Swan Label), which requires, among other things, lower water consumption in the production of the purified water.
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